Prozac as a drug and the historical use thereof is a controversy all on its own. Books have been written about it.
Because of what they have to endure, even on the best of days, men and women who suffer from fibromyalgia are still using the drug.
Those who have yet to do so but harbored the thought nevertheless, need to be well-equipped before making the conscious choice to rely on Prozac as one alternative towards dealing with physical and psychological pain.
To this end, an explanation of what Prozac is, its side effects and why people in general still choose this drug over and above the alternatives, is given.
What is Prozac?
Correlating the controversial drug with chronic fibromyalgia, it is also necessary to give readers a recap of what fibromyalgia is all about. But let’s first talk about Prozac.
It is the trademark of the original drug manufactured by Eli Lilly and was originally intended as an antidepressant.
It is classed with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs.
Today, many doctors are anti-Prozac having noted with concern the harmful side effects and complications associated with its use.
Why do patients use Prozac?
Originally, Prozac’s main prescribed purpose was to treat patients who suffered from panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and severe depression.
Up until recent years, particularly when doctors became aware of the serious side effects seen in some of their patients, the drug was prescribed for milder forms of depression as well as non-clinical symptoms of anxiety and stress.
The controversial drug of choice?
It remains baffling why there are still too many people who continue to rely on this controversial drug which apart from their addictive dependence on the drug, brings them more grief than relief.
Instead of relieving feelings of anxiety and depression, other side effects such as heightened panic attacks, tendencies towards becoming aggressive and even insomnia are prevalent.
The most startling side effect, it has been found is that people dependent on Prozac can veer towards intense and violent thoughts of suicide, even leading to suicide or similarly deviant behavior.
Now, where the controversy is escalated is the fact that nearly thirty years ago, the FDA stubbornly concluded that there was no real evidence of these symptoms. Fortunately, hearts and minds have changed since then.
What is fibromyalgia?
Let’s break with the painful controversies of Prozac for a moment and remind readers about what fibromyalgia is all about.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic but manageable condition, ideally without the unnecessary use of Prozac to deal with the anxiety of painful and irritable symptoms of the syndrome.
In its most extreme manifestations, particularly without proper treatment, FMS has been known to disable sufferers, preventing them from leading a normal life, entirely possible with the right treatment and minus the Prozac.
Painful symptoms
Typical symptoms of fibromyalgia are characterized mainly by muscle or musculoskeletal stiffness, tenderness or pain, sometimes all three.
There are other symptoms such as dizziness and even irritable bowel syndrome (IBT) to look out for.
Relevant to this article targeting the controversial nature of Prozac, consequential symptoms of the difficulties of dealing with fibromyalgia can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression.
Harmful and other side effects of using Prozac
By now, we’ve probably emphasized the psychologically damaging effects of using Prozac more than enough. However, other side effects should also be mentioned. begin with just a few common side effects and end with some rare incidences.
Common side effects
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Excessive sweating
- Loss of appetite
Intermittent side effects
- Shortness of breath
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Lack of interest in sex
- Hair loss
- Itchiness
Rare side effects
- Stomach and intestinal bleeding
- Abnormal functioning of the liver
- Glaucoma
- Allergic reactions
- Hyperactivity
Effective clinical alternatives
Because some folks are desperate to see quick-fix solutions to their anxiousness and stress and often regard this form of treatment as a sign of weakness and attach a stigma to it, they choose to ignore the benefits of psychotherapy and stay the course with drug treatments, including Prozac.
Also, this form of therapy can be expensive for those who only have government medical care to fall back on. But apart from helping them cope, psychotherapy also helps patients to focus.
Natural remedies
Those who continue to rely on Prozac or have had experience dealing with the drug need to consider the natural supplemental alternatives, mainly because they pose little or no risks to their overall health.
In fact, these supplements could also go a long way towards boosting their health. St. John’s wort and Omega-3 fatty acids are both popular choices among proponents of natural remedies for improving mental health.
Highly strung and depressed folks, as well as fibromyalgia sufferers, should also bear in mind the importance of adhering to the right diet.
A wholesome and holistic approach is required
One concern worth mentioning is that the FDA do not monitor the effectiveness of natural supplements with the same attention to detail that they generally give to clinically prescribed drugs, although, given their past history in dealing with the controversial Prozac, one is allowed to question this.
However, apart from adopting a wholesome and holistic approach to looking after your mental health as well as managing your FM condition, sound medical advice is always going to be a best practice which should never be discarded, even when symptoms of both fibromyalgia and stress and anxiety have been brought under control.
Our intention here has never been to cause you alarm. Rather, our best intentions have always been to keep you informed and to help you make the correct and most rational decisions commensurate with your own unique medical circumstances.
In the context of this article, while highlighting the controversies of Prozac, we’ve also been able to motivate the use of healthy alternatives which could well prove to be more effective in dealing with the stress and anxiety associated with coping with fibromyalgia.
Sources:
http://www.drugwatch.com/prozac/
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/Depression/265
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6997/prozac-oral/details/list-sideeffects
